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Sunrise Birth Team

The Sunrise Team

We are women helping other women in this community. Each member of the Sunrise Birth Team brings a calm, confident spirit and capable hands to every birth she attends.

Karni Seymour-Brown LMis one of the first legally licensed midwives in California. She is the mother of two children, both born with midwives and she has devoted 30 years of her life to helping women embrace the innate power of birth through compassionate one-on-one care. Karni opened Sunrise Birthing Center in 2000 as an extension of her commitment and service.

Diane Berger RN PHNhas been Karni’s assistant at births for over ten years and a registered nurse since 1991. A professional lactation counselor with an extensive background in maternal-child health, Diane provides in home breast-feeding education and support. She takes the most pride in her own three home-birthed & breast-fed boys.

Helen Loucado RNhas assisted Karni for ten years and is a registered nurse with a holistic perspective since 1980. She is a childbirth educator, certified doula, infant & pregnancy massage specialist and lactation counselor. Helen is a mother of two and has a loving and involved presence in the lives of her six grandchildren, all naturally birthed and breast-fed.

Infant Massage

Class Instructors:

Diane Berger, RN PHNsee profile

Helen Loucado, RN LMT CLA CIIM CLCsee profile

Sunrise Living Room & Class Space- 12 N Ash Street, Ventura, CA 93001

Current Class Schedule

Sunrise Birthing Center hosts community events as well as classes and workshops relating to pregnancy, birth and parenting.

Childbirth Education/Birth Class with Helen- call for dates 805-643-4354Breastfeeding Workshop with Diane- Starts 1-24-11 6:00-8:30 call to register 805-654-1463Infant Massage with Helen-call for dates 805-643-4354The Birth Project/ Pregnancy Group with Laurel-1st Three Tuesdays of each month, call to confirm 805-654-1842

We are located at 12 N Ash Street, Ventura, CA 93001, see the mapquest gadget at the bottom for directions. sunrisebirthingcenter.com

Saturday, May 17, 2008

We recently completed a childbirth education 6 week series. We had a great group and hope to post some photos soon. 3 of the couples are Sunrise clients and the other 2 are planning hospital births with physicians. It was a nice mix and we learned from each other.

002008-03-20T04:52:00.000-07:00It's now 4:00 a.m. I 've been home for about an hour. We had a wonderful birth last night with a lovely family. I won't share any details out of consideration for privacy and confidentiality. Their birth is their story to tell. It was beautiful though and as Karni & I walked the mama down the brick steps of the Birth Center I thought that no matter how many times we make that walk it never loses it's luster. There is such a deep satisfaction in supporting these families. We walk Mama to her car. Papa has warmed it up, secured baby in the car seat and is waiting for Mama. We help settle her in, hug them both good bye & walk back inside to begin the cleanup process. Karni keeps the Birth Center meticulously clean. We wash & sanitize every surface, start the laundry etc. Soon there will be no evidence of the birth. Each time we go through this clean up routine I think about the many births that have taken place there through the years and of the range of human emotion and intensity of experience that have also played out within those walls. Women have been empowered and diginifed and babies have been gently and respectfully welcomed into the waiting arms of their mamas. The family unit is honored. All through midwifery care. I feel privileged to have a share in this model of care. Each birth and family is unique and these diverse families have invited Karni to participate in their experience & through her I share in that invitation. We share in supporting first time mamas and we also begin a history with our families as they return for care with their next pregnancy. Karni has cared for multigenerations through her 30+ years of experience & I'm so grateful to be working with and learning from her. I completely trust her judgement and intuition. I love being a part of the Sunrise Team. So now, with a tired body & happy heart I will crawl into my bed- the bed that played it's own role in midwifery care & birth. It is the bed in which my youngest grandson was born. I'm off to sleep as I am after all, on call for the next birth.

Classes at Sunrise

Classes and workshops take place in the beautiful and welcoming living area at Sunrise Birthing Center. Relax and enjoy the comfortable seating and cozy fireplace.

Our classes, group and workshops are open to all women and families. You do not need to be a Sunrise client to benefit from the services offered here.We respect and welcomediversity.

In order to better serve families we are offering a unique opportunity in childbirth and parenting preparation. Our format will be a seven week class taught by two licensed birth professionals. We will have a combined series with wonderful sessions for childbirth education and an entire session exclusively devoted to a breastfeeding workshop. Dedicating a complete two hour session to breastfeeding helps to lay the necessary foundation for this vital nourishing and bonding phase of the holistic birthing process and gives it the importance it deserves.

The format is designed to fully prepare parents on all levels for their birth and parenting experience. The breastfeeding portion will be presented the week after the session covering newborn care. This timing supports the learning curve and will allow participants to weave together what they have just learned about newborn care and behavior with babies’ feeding cues and instinctive behavior regarding breastfeeding. Our last session is devoted to postpartum issues and then wraps up beautifully with an invitation for ongoing connections and mentoring with classmates and instructors.

We are very excited about this unique format for Childbirth Education and Breastfeeding Preparation. This class differentiates itself from others through this new format and the fact that both instructors are holistically oriented registered nurses drawing on their specialized education and years of experience. See profiles at sidebar and more at bottom of page.

Childbirth Education/Birth Class

Instructor: Helen Loucado, RN CMP CLA CIIM CLC

The 6 week childbirth education series is a comprehensive coverage of both the physiological and psychological changes of pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. Introspection and various means of self expression encouraged. Certain aspects of well known birthing methods and philosophies are incorporated where helpful, but no one particular method is promoted. Rather, women are encouraged to find their own unique way through the birthing process. Birthing options are covered as well as contrasting models of care. Attention is given to how to handle the unplanned or unexpected elements of labor and birth. You will learn effective ways to cope and be supported during labor, as well as complete exercises and receive information designed to improve communication skills between the birthing couple as individuals, and their health care providers. There is a balanced presentation of interventions including epidurals. Newborn care and behavioral states are discussed as well the much overlooked but extremely important postpartum period.This class promotes holistic methods of educating and empowering women and their partners to have the confidence and tools to make informed decisions and to embrace the momentous events of labor and birth without fear, with flexibility and with full understanding. Personal attention given to each couple's concerns. $175.00 for birth class portion-maternalinstincts.net

Call for next session: Helen 805 643-4354 or 805 407-0457

Wednesdays 6:00- 8:30

Breastfeeding Workshop

Instructor: Diane Berger, RN PHN

This special workshop covers topics such as: How to support your baby’s innate reflexive instincts and capacity to latch and breastfeed, reading infant cues, responsive parenting, different infant breastfeeding styles, various positions for breastfeeding, latch on, supply and demand, and how to tell if your baby is getting enough milk. Because the early weeks with a new baby is a time to practice and become a family, breastfeeding helps to foster trust and provides for secure attachments between baby and parents. This workshop will give you the tools you need to begin a successful breastfeeding relationship. This workshop will be personalized allowing time to address your specific needs and concerns. - $35.00 for this workshop portion of the class venturabreastfeeding.net

Learn the ancient art of loving touch communication that results in physical and emotional well being. Infant Massage promotes peace, respect and enhances attachment and bonding. All body systems are supported by massage. Babies learn to relax and fussiness is reduced. Experience increased confidence in parenting skills as you learn to read and respond to baby's cues and recognize behavioral states.Infant Massage is also a beautiful way to address interruptions in the bonding process due to Cesarean birth, time spent in the NICU, birth trauma, surgery, etc. 3 weeks 1 hour sessions - $75.00 Sunrise Clients ask about discount

Helen completed Level II training in order to assist parents of babies with special needs.For more info about this class see maternalinstincts.netor helen-maternalinstincts.blogspot.com

Open to all women at the start of their second trimester in pregnancy or anytime thereafter. Not limited to first time mothers, mothers who are birthing again are VERY welcome to come and share their wisdom. The intention for this group is to create a conscious community of mothers who want to learn more about themselves on this path towards motherhood. Artwork, meditation, and group dialogue come together to create a powerful experience for mothers. -$ small donation requested

1st three Tuesdays of each month

Call Laurel @ (805) 654-1842

*Please call in advance to reserve your spot and to confirm the group for the evening. We will also need a phone number for you so we can notify you if we need to cancel in the event of a birth. Thank you.

Birth class

Instructor Profiles

Instructor profile:Helen Loucado, RN LMT CLA CIIM CLCHelen has been committed to holistic care as a Registered Nurse since 1980, and expands her knowledge base through continuing education and independent research. She brings not only her professional education and skills, but also her rich life experience as a mother and grandmother, into her mission to support and empower pregnant women, mothers and families.Helen received her training through ALACE and has been teaching birth class since 1999. She is passionate about birth and has taught in a variety of settings and attended more than 150 births. She is also a certified instructor of Infant Massage through A Foundation for Healthy Family Living She deeply believes in the lasting benefits of this form of communication and has been sharing this with families since 2000. Helen also teaches an Early Pregnancy Class, Newborn Care Class as well as Sibling Preparation Class maternalinstincts.nethelen-maternalinstincts.blogspot.com

Instructor profile:Diane Berger RN PHN Instructor has an extensive background in maternal-child health. She assists home and center births and has been teaching and supporting breastfeeding dyads since 1991. She is committed to protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding, as well as, nurturing the development of diverse mothering styles that develop through the unique bonds between families and their babies. Diane provides loving in-home breastfeeding support, breast pump assistance, classes and consultations to assist mothers and babies experiencing both typical and complex breastfeeding issues. The joy of being a mother to 3 breastfed boys provides her with much compassion and levity for the mothering process.Venturabreastfeeding.net

Facilitator Profile:Laurel Connell, MA, Birthing From Within MentorLaurel’s interest in birth was ignited at the age of 4 as she witnessed the homebirth of her brother, and especially when she cut the cord! The impact of experiencing a birth at such a young age, in such a natural and peaceful setting, deeply effected how Laurel views pregnancy, birth, parenthood and life itself.Laurel provides emotional, educational and inspirational support to mothers and/or couples in the childbearing year. Drawing from personal experience of being a mother of two, she also weaves her educational background of having a master’s degree in clinical psychology and her practice of eastern spirituality into her work. Laurel has trained with Pam England, author of Birthing From Within, and for the past 5 years has worked with couples to prepare for birth and parenthood.

About Us

We believe that every expecting mother deserves to be:
-Respected for her unique life story and family situation.
-Cared for with kindness and personal commitment.
-Empowered through a natural birth experience in a safe,
private setting with trusted, experienced support.
We provide the diverse families of Ventura County:
Prenatal care that is individualized, non-intrusive, and respectful of mother, baby and family.
Pregnancy support drawn from our team’s decades of varied professional and personal experience.
Birthing support in a home or birth center setting that nurtures, guides and informs while
honoring the strength of women’s bodies and each mother’s freedom of choice.
sunrisebirthingcenter.com